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Blackcloak: A Man of his Sword
Bear witness to a psychological vivisection.
Blackcloak is the disturbing tale of a fractured, damaged personality set in a land not unlike ancient China. Here, elemental forces are real, dreams can reshape a lifetime and the night is owned by horrifying yet revered entities. Here, two very different halves of the same man are teased out, tempted, examined, cross-examined and eventually reconstructed to form a whole of unprecedented power. Two ambitious women vie for control over this potential weapon: Dhiana, who took his memories in the first place, and Vachaelle, who is determined to mould the boy into a sword of her own.
A twisted bildungsroman that takes both paths when the road forks. A psychic interrogation that leaves no door unopened. A killing romp that starts with a single drop of blood…
Blackcloak is the disturbing tale of a fractured, damaged personality set in a land not unlike ancient China. Here, elemental forces are real, dreams can reshape a lifetime and the night is owned by horrifying yet revered entities. Here, two very different halves of the same man are teased out, tempted, examined, cross-examined and eventually reconstructed to form a whole of unprecedented power. Two ambitious women vie for control over this potential weapon: Dhiana, who took his memories in the first place, and Vachaelle, who is determined to mould the boy into a sword of her own.
A twisted bildungsroman that takes both paths when the road forks. A psychic interrogation that leaves no door unopened. A killing romp that starts with a single drop of blood…
434 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2015
9 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
W. James Chan
2 books20 followersMy reading life has run the gamut and I believe every genre has something to offer. If a book has an interesting premise and the first few pages show me the writer has the chops to pull it off, I'll read just about anything people throw my way.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 4, 2025
For someone who currently has difficulty reading due to eyesight issues, the fact that I did not shelve this book unfinished speaks volumes about its brilliance and power to seduce. Along the way, I’ll admit I often found myself wrestling with the worry that I couldn’t do it justice until such time as my eyesight improves. But in every instance, I always read on anyway, feeling magnetised by W. James Chan writing. I also had to remind myself that, due to its intricacy and purposeful writing style, part of Blackcloak’s design to coax its reader towards re-readings, anyway. This is a Lynchian tale of a fractured personality, after all, ala Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive, and at times it comes off as as much of a mind-bender and puzzle as those particular texts. One pass will surely not be enough, no matter how absorbed you may have felt along the way. There is much to cogitate here.
In light of that, one thing about Blackcloak that I particularly fell in love with was the meticulously synthesised lore, mythos, and traditions of the society that the narrative inhabits. The Twelve, the Twelve Commandments, would be one example of this. Another would be the poetic names of places and characters, and even times of day.
For the sake of simplicity, let’s call the central character ‘Dog Ears’. For me, it was around the time that the character Plump Treat was introduced, that I realised it would not be that easy to like Dog Ears, but I soon came to sympathise with him anyway because he seemingly has everything stacked against him in this extreme dog-eat-dog world, so intricately and meticulously crafted.
Amid his journey through this cruel terrain, layers of this protagonist’s personality are peeled back, facilitating a re-examination. Owing to this, without giving away anything, there are reveals that make for quite a denouement! ‘I should have seen that coming,’ I told myself, but I didn’t. The novel presents quandaries around the nature of identity and the role of memories in selfhood. And, if memories are not to be relied upon, what might that mean for our protagonist?
Blackcloak is ‘psychofantasy’, to use W. James Chan’s term, and it has the feeling of an epic. Meanwhile, the writing style is somehow rich yet elegantly spare at times. Also, this is not a visually depicted text – I could not imagine what a land not unlike ancient China looked like – and at first I struggled with this, but over time I learned to let that go and became much more interested in the psychological depth of the writing, finding that that is where the meat of the story lies. This is chiefly an examination of the scarred psyche of the protagonist, after all. Beyond all that, the reader is free to visualise the story as they wish.
In summary, Blackcloak is not an easy read, but definitely a worthwhile one! Yes, it is an utterly unique and compelling text, and exactly what I was searching for on my hunt for interesting and unusual books to grace my bookshelves. I’m glad I found a writer of such ingenuity
‘May the night never know your name’… indeed, or I’d be in hot water. I wouldn’t want to live in Dog Ears’ world, for it is a harsh world indeed, but I greatly enjoy reading about it. Furthermore, W. James Chan has made me into a reader again, which is tremendous!
In light of that, one thing about Blackcloak that I particularly fell in love with was the meticulously synthesised lore, mythos, and traditions of the society that the narrative inhabits. The Twelve, the Twelve Commandments, would be one example of this. Another would be the poetic names of places and characters, and even times of day.
For the sake of simplicity, let’s call the central character ‘Dog Ears’. For me, it was around the time that the character Plump Treat was introduced, that I realised it would not be that easy to like Dog Ears, but I soon came to sympathise with him anyway because he seemingly has everything stacked against him in this extreme dog-eat-dog world, so intricately and meticulously crafted.
Amid his journey through this cruel terrain, layers of this protagonist’s personality are peeled back, facilitating a re-examination. Owing to this, without giving away anything, there are reveals that make for quite a denouement! ‘I should have seen that coming,’ I told myself, but I didn’t. The novel presents quandaries around the nature of identity and the role of memories in selfhood. And, if memories are not to be relied upon, what might that mean for our protagonist?
Blackcloak is ‘psychofantasy’, to use W. James Chan’s term, and it has the feeling of an epic. Meanwhile, the writing style is somehow rich yet elegantly spare at times. Also, this is not a visually depicted text – I could not imagine what a land not unlike ancient China looked like – and at first I struggled with this, but over time I learned to let that go and became much more interested in the psychological depth of the writing, finding that that is where the meat of the story lies. This is chiefly an examination of the scarred psyche of the protagonist, after all. Beyond all that, the reader is free to visualise the story as they wish.
In summary, Blackcloak is not an easy read, but definitely a worthwhile one! Yes, it is an utterly unique and compelling text, and exactly what I was searching for on my hunt for interesting and unusual books to grace my bookshelves. I’m glad I found a writer of such ingenuity
‘May the night never know your name’… indeed, or I’d be in hot water. I wouldn’t want to live in Dog Ears’ world, for it is a harsh world indeed, but I greatly enjoy reading about it. Furthermore, W. James Chan has made me into a reader again, which is tremendous!
September 5, 2024
Well, this wasn't easy... 😅
The story was so confusing, the writing style is so unique... My mind got tangled in it so badly that I had to step away, breathe, and pick up another read... just to distract it.
I hated being in the dark, but it was so tempting. The moment you think that you start to figure it out, you get trapped even more. There are no answers, or maybe I just asked the wrong questions...
I have really mixed feelings right now. The only thing I can say... it's brilliant. 🙃
The story was so confusing, the writing style is so unique... My mind got tangled in it so badly that I had to step away, breathe, and pick up another read... just to distract it.
I hated being in the dark, but it was so tempting. The moment you think that you start to figure it out, you get trapped even more. There are no answers, or maybe I just asked the wrong questions...
I have really mixed feelings right now. The only thing I can say... it's brilliant. 🙃
March 25, 2015
This debut novel from W. James Chan is an impressive start to what looks to be a promising series in the making. This is not your typical fantasy novel, and I find its depth quite refreshing. The world of Kaef’re is both familiar and alien, with the story set in a land similar to ancient China. The province of Chunko has its own cultural distinctions, however. At the very start, we encounter the Night’s Own, terrifying entities not unlike vampires, who rule over and are revered by the humans of Kaef’re. We also learn of the “Talents” that the people of Kaef’re develop when they reach puberty: weak elemental abilities, or (more rarely) healing or telepathic skills.
The story of Blackcloak is an in-depth study of the main character, divided into two halves that create a third entity, just as the narrator is a similar combination of parts to create a new whole. Two separate histories are drawn from the narrator’s locked memories by Dhiana, the Mindwarp, a powerful telepath with the ability to open wide and interrogate the mind of any subject. Her interrogation allows him to return to what he really is. Both stories that the Mindwarp reveals are covered in the fingerprints of Vachaelle, the Nightsong, rival to Dhiana, and a powerful entity whose true face stays hidden throughout both tales. Both women want to shape and claim the Scourge, the Blackcloak, the man that formed as a result of two separate lives.
As the Mindwarp delves into the memories of her captive, it is up to the reader to figure out what is true, what is false, and whether knowing the truth ultimately matters when it comes to one’s self identity. Can dreams shape your life? Or do they cease to matter when you awaken?
In reading this novel, I was most impressed with the author’s ability to maintain the thread of the flow of time in a very twisting narration. Great care has been given to the timeline, in order to intertwine the two personalities’ histories at several levels. Great care has also been given to the language of the writing. While the book is “a killing romp” as advertised, it is written in elegant, often almost lyrical prose. One of my favourite lines (which doesn’t spoil anything) is “The moon was no longer just the crescent of cracked eggshell I remembered from a week ago”.
I very much enjoyed this first novel, as well as the included sample of the next, and hope that the author is able to publish on time, because I can’t wait to see what happens next!
The story of Blackcloak is an in-depth study of the main character, divided into two halves that create a third entity, just as the narrator is a similar combination of parts to create a new whole. Two separate histories are drawn from the narrator’s locked memories by Dhiana, the Mindwarp, a powerful telepath with the ability to open wide and interrogate the mind of any subject. Her interrogation allows him to return to what he really is. Both stories that the Mindwarp reveals are covered in the fingerprints of Vachaelle, the Nightsong, rival to Dhiana, and a powerful entity whose true face stays hidden throughout both tales. Both women want to shape and claim the Scourge, the Blackcloak, the man that formed as a result of two separate lives.
As the Mindwarp delves into the memories of her captive, it is up to the reader to figure out what is true, what is false, and whether knowing the truth ultimately matters when it comes to one’s self identity. Can dreams shape your life? Or do they cease to matter when you awaken?
In reading this novel, I was most impressed with the author’s ability to maintain the thread of the flow of time in a very twisting narration. Great care has been given to the timeline, in order to intertwine the two personalities’ histories at several levels. Great care has also been given to the language of the writing. While the book is “a killing romp” as advertised, it is written in elegant, often almost lyrical prose. One of my favourite lines (which doesn’t spoil anything) is “The moon was no longer just the crescent of cracked eggshell I remembered from a week ago”.
I very much enjoyed this first novel, as well as the included sample of the next, and hope that the author is able to publish on time, because I can’t wait to see what happens next!
July 12, 2025
Blackcloak is an exciting, beautifully written dark fantasy. It’s also a deliciously intricate psychological thriller.
The story is about a deeply wounded, fractured man, and the things he must go through to fulfil his destiny. And yet… How much of it is real, and how much of it is just construct?
Well, that is the treacherous landscape you must navigate to find out. I can’t help but be reminded of the Tennessee Williams quote: “Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.”
Did I enjoy the book? Did I have fun reading it? Two difficult questions to answer because it’s not the type of book you read for cozy enjoyment. It makes you uncomfortable. It messes with you; makes you question everything. But yes, I did enjoy the book. At moments I was completely captivated and swept away by it, to such an extent that I forgot the lies that both Char and I were being subjected to.
The novel asks difficult questions about the nature of identity; the role memory plays in forming a person’s core self. And if one’s memories are not to be trusted, then what exactly are we?
With questions of morality, of good and evil, it plays gleeful abandon… but not reckless. Oh no, it’s very deliberate in the way it cuts.
In the end, I found it to be an extraordinary journey and one I felt very lucky to have taken. It really is that good.
The story is about a deeply wounded, fractured man, and the things he must go through to fulfil his destiny. And yet… How much of it is real, and how much of it is just construct?
Well, that is the treacherous landscape you must navigate to find out. I can’t help but be reminded of the Tennessee Williams quote: “Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.”
Did I enjoy the book? Did I have fun reading it? Two difficult questions to answer because it’s not the type of book you read for cozy enjoyment. It makes you uncomfortable. It messes with you; makes you question everything. But yes, I did enjoy the book. At moments I was completely captivated and swept away by it, to such an extent that I forgot the lies that both Char and I were being subjected to.
The novel asks difficult questions about the nature of identity; the role memory plays in forming a person’s core self. And if one’s memories are not to be trusted, then what exactly are we?
With questions of morality, of good and evil, it plays gleeful abandon… but not reckless. Oh no, it’s very deliberate in the way it cuts.
In the end, I found it to be an extraordinary journey and one I felt very lucky to have taken. It really is that good.
April 7, 2015
Glory's descent upon the dark slopes of insanity
Once embarked on Wong Shah-Long’ journey, one would think they're reading a fantasy novel written in a highly artistic fashion - and what I mean by this is that the mental images that the author projects inside our minds are of amazing detail and power. However, as the novel develops, an altogether more fascinating exploration begins, one that concerns consciousness and the nature of reality.
Witnessing Dog Ears’ descent unto the darkest slopes of madness is fascinating and, in a way, humbling. The ecstasy of victory is sometimes just around the corner, tempting us to read just a few more pages. Often, though, the composer of this symphony of words has other plans in mind, and the narrative takes yet another unexpected turn, shoving the reader’s mind mercilessly down an unexpected corridor of thought.
Sometimes the novel’s intricacy is overwhelming, demanding an increased level of attention to detail. This could potentially work against it when confronted with superficial readers. In other words, this is not your Sunday beach fun novel, but rather the cozy quiet evening when you want to phase-out from this planet and enter another plane of existence.
There are all the markings of a great epic here, and I can’t wait for the second volume!
There is blood on a leaf.
Once embarked on Wong Shah-Long’ journey, one would think they're reading a fantasy novel written in a highly artistic fashion - and what I mean by this is that the mental images that the author projects inside our minds are of amazing detail and power. However, as the novel develops, an altogether more fascinating exploration begins, one that concerns consciousness and the nature of reality.
Witnessing Dog Ears’ descent unto the darkest slopes of madness is fascinating and, in a way, humbling. The ecstasy of victory is sometimes just around the corner, tempting us to read just a few more pages. Often, though, the composer of this symphony of words has other plans in mind, and the narrative takes yet another unexpected turn, shoving the reader’s mind mercilessly down an unexpected corridor of thought.
Sometimes the novel’s intricacy is overwhelming, demanding an increased level of attention to detail. This could potentially work against it when confronted with superficial readers. In other words, this is not your Sunday beach fun novel, but rather the cozy quiet evening when you want to phase-out from this planet and enter another plane of existence.
There are all the markings of a great epic here, and I can’t wait for the second volume!
There is blood on a leaf.
August 22, 2025
The prologue to Chan’s intriguing and ambitious fantasy punches you right in the chops from the get-go. The prose is high-powered, peppered with jaw-dropping allusions and language tricks, and it both tickles the fancy of the more literary reader and simultaneously plants a big fat warning sign in front of your nose. This is not yet another iteration of Tolkien or G.R.R. Martin. If you’re expecting 400 pages of Skyrim or a chosen one with the prettiness of a K-pop icon, riding atop a dragon and taking on hordes of invading orcs, turn back now! BLACKCLOAK is fantasy, yes, but it’s the kind of fantasy you’ve never read before.
Thankfully in some ways, the dreamy pyrotechnics settle down a little (but only a little) when the story begins in earnest. The hapless Dog Ears (in fact, the first incarnation of the main character) is mercilessly bullied as the village idiot, but is afflicted by profound questions about the world he inhabits and his place within it. Clearly, something is a bit off; he’s not quite the person he thinks he is. And as the story expands and poor Dog Ears becomes Char the bully, an unprepossessing street urchin but with the same peculiar doubts and more noble feelings, his psychological manipulation by agents beyond his control blurs the division between dream and reality – until it is not only Char but also the reader who must negotiate the mental ambiguities of the world Chan has created.
And what a world it is. Reminiscent of “ancient China”, according to the blurb, but also with a distinct whiff of Kurosawa – at least for this Occidental reader with little knowledge of the Orient -, Char’s (and Chan’s) playground is rich, but more in vivid sepia impressions and ideas than in strict black and white detail. In keeping with the dreamlike quality of many scenes, I felt that I was looking at them through a vignette. And, yet, the action is occasionally stark, bloody, and in your face. Chan doesn’t hold back on the gore, although this is hardly a core element of the book, and is, anyway, handled in a dispassionate, non-sensational way. A sword does what it does. It is what it is.
Another thing I appreciate is that although Chan has created a vivid fantasy realm with its own lore, helpfully supported by a glossary of terms at the back and even a pronunciation guide for the language elements he has invented, he doesn’t subject the reader to pseudo-Shakespearean language – no prithee, my lord, or Hale fellow, well met. The vernacular is 21st century, which makes Char’s mental discourse and all dialogue in the book accessible and immediately engaging.
Suffice to say, this is, overall, a demanding book – but demanding in a good way. First, the writing is top-notch throughout, the author rewarding the patient reader with word-wizardry that regularly stops you in your tracks. Second, the tapestry of interweaving threads – threads more in terms of psychology and meaning, perhaps, than strict plot mechanics – is rich and sometimes confounding, and you certainly need your wits about you. But it all pays off. Like Char, and later Charan, the final incarnation of the hero on his road to self-discovery, we turn the page, curious to know finally where the madness of dreams ends and reality begins.
Highly recommended.
Thankfully in some ways, the dreamy pyrotechnics settle down a little (but only a little) when the story begins in earnest. The hapless Dog Ears (in fact, the first incarnation of the main character) is mercilessly bullied as the village idiot, but is afflicted by profound questions about the world he inhabits and his place within it. Clearly, something is a bit off; he’s not quite the person he thinks he is. And as the story expands and poor Dog Ears becomes Char the bully, an unprepossessing street urchin but with the same peculiar doubts and more noble feelings, his psychological manipulation by agents beyond his control blurs the division between dream and reality – until it is not only Char but also the reader who must negotiate the mental ambiguities of the world Chan has created.
And what a world it is. Reminiscent of “ancient China”, according to the blurb, but also with a distinct whiff of Kurosawa – at least for this Occidental reader with little knowledge of the Orient -, Char’s (and Chan’s) playground is rich, but more in vivid sepia impressions and ideas than in strict black and white detail. In keeping with the dreamlike quality of many scenes, I felt that I was looking at them through a vignette. And, yet, the action is occasionally stark, bloody, and in your face. Chan doesn’t hold back on the gore, although this is hardly a core element of the book, and is, anyway, handled in a dispassionate, non-sensational way. A sword does what it does. It is what it is.
Another thing I appreciate is that although Chan has created a vivid fantasy realm with its own lore, helpfully supported by a glossary of terms at the back and even a pronunciation guide for the language elements he has invented, he doesn’t subject the reader to pseudo-Shakespearean language – no prithee, my lord, or Hale fellow, well met. The vernacular is 21st century, which makes Char’s mental discourse and all dialogue in the book accessible and immediately engaging.
Suffice to say, this is, overall, a demanding book – but demanding in a good way. First, the writing is top-notch throughout, the author rewarding the patient reader with word-wizardry that regularly stops you in your tracks. Second, the tapestry of interweaving threads – threads more in terms of psychology and meaning, perhaps, than strict plot mechanics – is rich and sometimes confounding, and you certainly need your wits about you. But it all pays off. Like Char, and later Charan, the final incarnation of the hero on his road to self-discovery, we turn the page, curious to know finally where the madness of dreams ends and reality begins.
Highly recommended.
September 24, 2024
'Black Cloak is...'
I sat with that sentence for a long time, trying to figure out how to describe the journey I went on while reading it. Because that's what it was; a journey. And like any journey that matters, it was more about how we experience the story, than it was the checkpoints along the way.
Yes, there's a sword wielding anti-hero in a rich Night-worshipping fantasy world. And yes, there's an absolutely riveting antagonist exerting control over said anti-hero for their own ominous end. And YES, the book is an exploration of identity, as we witness a mind dissected and then pieced back together - somehow ending up with more parts than it started with.
But Black Cloak is so much more than the sum of its plot points.
In a time when everyone is looking for an escape, Black Cloak is an abduction. Chan traps you in the first-person perspective with his writing style. When the protagonist is overlooking the clues, so are you. When he's confused, you don't know what the hell's going on. But it can also be beautiful and tragic.
Just look at this passage-
"I limped home, bleeding and bruised, eyes puffy, ears ringing, head aching -- and Father was waiting, because that's what elders do while everyone else works.
'Only the strongest survive in the world,' he asserted before showing me what 'real strength' feels like, as though the kids hadn't already done that."
It's been over a week since I read this line, and I can't get it out of my head. 'Real strength'. It's the ALLUSION to violence that hits me the hardest -- that forces my mind into that of an adolescent, distancing themselves from their own suffering.
There are many of these heartbreaking little moments scattered throughout the book. And I loved that they continually caught me unawares.
As the sort of reader who likes to hypothesise, decipher, and generally indulge in wild speculation, there aren't a lot of fantasy books that catch me off guard. I can normally see the twists coming a mile away.
Black Cloak is not one of those books, and the end was so much more satisfying for it. It was such a delight to be genuinely surprised by a story, and then look back and think "I should have seen that coming."
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to expand their horizons, anyone with a love for literature, and anyone who is brave enough to get lost -- knowing you'll be found again in the end.
I sat with that sentence for a long time, trying to figure out how to describe the journey I went on while reading it. Because that's what it was; a journey. And like any journey that matters, it was more about how we experience the story, than it was the checkpoints along the way.
Yes, there's a sword wielding anti-hero in a rich Night-worshipping fantasy world. And yes, there's an absolutely riveting antagonist exerting control over said anti-hero for their own ominous end. And YES, the book is an exploration of identity, as we witness a mind dissected and then pieced back together - somehow ending up with more parts than it started with.
But Black Cloak is so much more than the sum of its plot points.
In a time when everyone is looking for an escape, Black Cloak is an abduction. Chan traps you in the first-person perspective with his writing style. When the protagonist is overlooking the clues, so are you. When he's confused, you don't know what the hell's going on. But it can also be beautiful and tragic.
Just look at this passage-
"I limped home, bleeding and bruised, eyes puffy, ears ringing, head aching -- and Father was waiting, because that's what elders do while everyone else works.
'Only the strongest survive in the world,' he asserted before showing me what 'real strength' feels like, as though the kids hadn't already done that."
It's been over a week since I read this line, and I can't get it out of my head. 'Real strength'. It's the ALLUSION to violence that hits me the hardest -- that forces my mind into that of an adolescent, distancing themselves from their own suffering.
There are many of these heartbreaking little moments scattered throughout the book. And I loved that they continually caught me unawares.
As the sort of reader who likes to hypothesise, decipher, and generally indulge in wild speculation, there aren't a lot of fantasy books that catch me off guard. I can normally see the twists coming a mile away.
Black Cloak is not one of those books, and the end was so much more satisfying for it. It was such a delight to be genuinely surprised by a story, and then look back and think "I should have seen that coming."
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to expand their horizons, anyone with a love for literature, and anyone who is brave enough to get lost -- knowing you'll be found again in the end.
April 9, 2025
Blackcloak: A Man of his Sword
How to describe it without spoilers? Important to keep the mystery, because understanding what's happening is part of the fun. Blackcloak is a psychological thriller, a coming of age book, a supernatural fantasy, giving the 'Oriental Gothic' label a totally new meaning. It takes tropes and turns them upside down. It shines, even in the dark. It's...
Let's start again. It's a smashed mirror. Looking closer, the reader can see the shards are deliberate, meticulous even. Magic, martial arts, the old favourites are all there among the splinters but different as the mirror is repaired piece by piece. Through that mirror can be seen a place akin to medieval China with external influences we might recognise, alongside a new heaven and hell, a new night and day, new gods and demons. There's nothing ponderous about these discoveries, everything moves fast in this brutal subtle world of blood and flowers. Though the reader may be confused some of the time, one of the very best things about Black Cloak is its payoff. We learn early enough what is happening, and by the end, understand perfectly why. Though the way forward is through new adventures, the reader is never strung along and the ending has its own sense of completion. As books go, this is a very satisfying read.
What it's not, is an easy read. It requires concentration to pick up the clues. This is not a book to coast through, or perhaps it's clearer to say that the reader can coast through it but what a waste that would be. There's an intensity and intricacy to this worldmaking, perfect for immersion. It feels like a real place, even though there is a strong element of fever dream running through the whole thing. As in a dream, certain characters seem to fade or blend while others shine in the mind's eye, so keeping up may be an issue but there's time enough if the reader makes the time.
This reviewer suggests making the time. Not only are the story and world engrossing, the character of Blackcloak himself fascinates.
Deserves a sequel in future and applause right now. Very impressive.
Edited to add: Just learned that a sequel, 'Gildenhammer' is available as a free epub on the author's Kofi, and that hard copies will soon be available.
How to describe it without spoilers? Important to keep the mystery, because understanding what's happening is part of the fun. Blackcloak is a psychological thriller, a coming of age book, a supernatural fantasy, giving the 'Oriental Gothic' label a totally new meaning. It takes tropes and turns them upside down. It shines, even in the dark. It's...
Let's start again. It's a smashed mirror. Looking closer, the reader can see the shards are deliberate, meticulous even. Magic, martial arts, the old favourites are all there among the splinters but different as the mirror is repaired piece by piece. Through that mirror can be seen a place akin to medieval China with external influences we might recognise, alongside a new heaven and hell, a new night and day, new gods and demons. There's nothing ponderous about these discoveries, everything moves fast in this brutal subtle world of blood and flowers. Though the reader may be confused some of the time, one of the very best things about Black Cloak is its payoff. We learn early enough what is happening, and by the end, understand perfectly why. Though the way forward is through new adventures, the reader is never strung along and the ending has its own sense of completion. As books go, this is a very satisfying read.
What it's not, is an easy read. It requires concentration to pick up the clues. This is not a book to coast through, or perhaps it's clearer to say that the reader can coast through it but what a waste that would be. There's an intensity and intricacy to this worldmaking, perfect for immersion. It feels like a real place, even though there is a strong element of fever dream running through the whole thing. As in a dream, certain characters seem to fade or blend while others shine in the mind's eye, so keeping up may be an issue but there's time enough if the reader makes the time.
This reviewer suggests making the time. Not only are the story and world engrossing, the character of Blackcloak himself fascinates.
Deserves a sequel in future and applause right now. Very impressive.
Edited to add: Just learned that a sequel, 'Gildenhammer' is available as a free epub on the author's Kofi, and that hard copies will soon be available.
July 31, 2025
In a novel that appears to have everything (except one reliable narrator), BLACKCLOAK is a prelude to what must be a very fertile series. It has a lot of rules to learn and pieces to set up, and it guides us there naturally, giving us a few fragments of the world at a time so they are easy to digest. The writing is evocative and at times poetic, diving through a landscape both familiar and wholly new. Many things that are generally up are shown to us as down, and many things we expect to be white turn out pitch black. BLACKCLOAK always seems to be telling us that nothing is as it appears, leaving our feet too frightened to stand still on shaky ground. It is that anxious thorn of "something not quite right" that goads us to go on, propelling us through the pages of artfully crafted prose that are more than mere decoration for the walls of a maze.
One of the things that struck me when looking back at the book as a whole: BLACKCLOAK is hard to challenge as thoroughly as it challenges itself. Whenever it seems to hover too close to taking itself seriously, BLACKCLOAK delivers humor and disarming wordplay to slice through the mood. It chides itself whenever it makes the hero too heroic, mocks its own seeming lapse into harem romance. Even the system of religion, which must have been as thoughtfully constructed as BLACKCLOAK's several native languages, is not exempt from its japery. This reduction can come off as slightly insecure at times, but I believe that it is the key to BLACKCLOAK's charm: its startling accessibility.
Because it is occasionally quite vulnerable. Themes of incomplete identity and abandonment ripple through a fantasy that is rarely, if ever, fantastical. There is magic, and sword fighting, and creatures that defy understanding, but somehow the book stays grounded and human, if only half so. It opens up so many exciting possibilities for future titles in the series and sets a very labor-intensive bar for those who follow after. The only way to come away from BLACKCLOAK feeling dissatisfied is to finish it, shut it, and never open it again. A foundation this good must be built upon. I can't wait to see where GILDENHAMMER goes in such big shoes.
One of the things that struck me when looking back at the book as a whole: BLACKCLOAK is hard to challenge as thoroughly as it challenges itself. Whenever it seems to hover too close to taking itself seriously, BLACKCLOAK delivers humor and disarming wordplay to slice through the mood. It chides itself whenever it makes the hero too heroic, mocks its own seeming lapse into harem romance. Even the system of religion, which must have been as thoughtfully constructed as BLACKCLOAK's several native languages, is not exempt from its japery. This reduction can come off as slightly insecure at times, but I believe that it is the key to BLACKCLOAK's charm: its startling accessibility.
Because it is occasionally quite vulnerable. Themes of incomplete identity and abandonment ripple through a fantasy that is rarely, if ever, fantastical. There is magic, and sword fighting, and creatures that defy understanding, but somehow the book stays grounded and human, if only half so. It opens up so many exciting possibilities for future titles in the series and sets a very labor-intensive bar for those who follow after. The only way to come away from BLACKCLOAK feeling dissatisfied is to finish it, shut it, and never open it again. A foundation this good must be built upon. I can't wait to see where GILDENHAMMER goes in such big shoes.
June 4, 2024
I've just started re-reading Blackcloak: A Man of his Sword after I heard the author was releasing the second book of the series, and felt compelled to write this review because it's such a wild ride. I'd forgotten how intricate and beautiful the prose is, and how enmeshed you become in the dark, fractured world. It's a complex, intriguing fantasy, that weaves in mystery and suspense with a quest to reassemble the fractured identity of the protagonist. We meet Dog Ears who is living a lonely, wretched existence as an outsider in his pharisaical village. But Dog Ears' journey quickly takes him, and us, to places you could never predict, resulting in a truly unique, hell-for leather flight through different worlds and identities.
Chan expertly toys with his characters, and the reader, giving you enough information to find your footing, before purposefully pulling the rug from beneath your feet, and leaving you scrambling to piece this world and character together. What could be frustrating is instead exhilarating as your hurtle through the story - and each new puzzle is challenging and satisfying.
The world building is excellent. Chan creates a universe both complex and enthralling. If you're looking for a series to fall into I thoroughly recommend Blackcloak. I'm excited for the next part of the series, although fair warning - it's not for the novice reader. And you'll find yourself revisiting moments from the story long after the read, reevaluating what you think happened and realising that's exactly what Chan wants you to do.
Chan expertly toys with his characters, and the reader, giving you enough information to find your footing, before purposefully pulling the rug from beneath your feet, and leaving you scrambling to piece this world and character together. What could be frustrating is instead exhilarating as your hurtle through the story - and each new puzzle is challenging and satisfying.
The world building is excellent. Chan creates a universe both complex and enthralling. If you're looking for a series to fall into I thoroughly recommend Blackcloak. I'm excited for the next part of the series, although fair warning - it's not for the novice reader. And you'll find yourself revisiting moments from the story long after the read, reevaluating what you think happened and realising that's exactly what Chan wants you to do.
July 13, 2025
Blackcloak is an exciting, beautifully written dark fantasy. It’s also a deliciously intricate psychological thriller.
The story is about a deeply wounded, fractured man, and the things he must go through to fulfil his destiny. And yet… How much of it is real, and how much of it is just construct?
Well, that is the treacherous landscape you must navigate to find out. I can’t help but be reminded of the Tennessee Williams quote: “Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.”
Did I enjoy the book? Did I have fun reading it? Two difficult questions to answer because it’s not the type of book you read for cozy enjoyment. It makes you uncomfortable. It messes with you; makes you question everything. But yes, I did enjoy the book. At moments I was completely captivated and swept away by it, to such an extent that I forgot the lies that both Char and I were being subjected to.
The novel asks difficult questions about the nature of identity; the role memory plays in forming a person’s core self. And if one’s memories are not to be trusted, then what exactly are we?
With questions of morality, of good and evil, it plays gleeful abandon… but not reckless. Oh no, it’s very deliberate in the way it cuts.
In the end, I found it to be an extraordinary journey and one I felt very lucky to have taken. It really is that good.
The story is about a deeply wounded, fractured man, and the things he must go through to fulfil his destiny. And yet… How much of it is real, and how much of it is just construct?
Well, that is the treacherous landscape you must navigate to find out. I can’t help but be reminded of the Tennessee Williams quote: “Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.”
Did I enjoy the book? Did I have fun reading it? Two difficult questions to answer because it’s not the type of book you read for cozy enjoyment. It makes you uncomfortable. It messes with you; makes you question everything. But yes, I did enjoy the book. At moments I was completely captivated and swept away by it, to such an extent that I forgot the lies that both Char and I were being subjected to.
The novel asks difficult questions about the nature of identity; the role memory plays in forming a person’s core self. And if one’s memories are not to be trusted, then what exactly are we?
With questions of morality, of good and evil, it plays gleeful abandon… but not reckless. Oh no, it’s very deliberate in the way it cuts.
In the end, I found it to be an extraordinary journey and one I felt very lucky to have taken. It really is that good.
August 16, 2025
After much chewing, I've finished W. James Chan's Blackcloak. Be warned, your brain definitely needs to be engaged! The opening is frankly perplexing. It took me a few goes to summit, and I ended up pretty bewildered. That is though the key to this book as I see it. As you progress there are inklings of where it is going, and more is revealed as you progress. There is a dreamlike feel to near enough the whole book, and which makes sense in due course.
At times I sailed through, at times I got hung up on one sentence. I admit elements just didn't make sense, though later much was revealed.
I feel the book almost needs a primer, to help you surmount the not insubstantial hurdles put in the way of comprehension. Then again, that would spoil much of the storyline.
Did I like it? Well, yes and no. It was at times intensely frustrating and bewildering. You do feel immersed though in the strangeness, and it feels like you should get points just for trying and sticking with it! However, by the end it feels like something special. It's very clever. Perhaps too clever, too dense, too much to take in. Could it be changed to make it more accessible. Undoubtedly. Would that ruin it. A hard yes.
I have just finished it, but want to read it again. That I think says enough. Go read!
Yours bewildered but impressed.
At times I sailed through, at times I got hung up on one sentence. I admit elements just didn't make sense, though later much was revealed.
I feel the book almost needs a primer, to help you surmount the not insubstantial hurdles put in the way of comprehension. Then again, that would spoil much of the storyline.
Did I like it? Well, yes and no. It was at times intensely frustrating and bewildering. You do feel immersed though in the strangeness, and it feels like you should get points just for trying and sticking with it! However, by the end it feels like something special. It's very clever. Perhaps too clever, too dense, too much to take in. Could it be changed to make it more accessible. Undoubtedly. Would that ruin it. A hard yes.
I have just finished it, but want to read it again. That I think says enough. Go read!
Yours bewildered but impressed.
January 24, 2025
Woah.
Okay. Let me start off by admitting that it took me about 20% of the book to realllllllly understand and get into the plot of this story. But once I did, I was completely immersed in the Asian-esque culture and world that W. James Chan so beautifully crafted. He has an incredible way with words and weaving scenes together to create a very unique 'voice.' While on the subject of the Author's writing style and voice, I feel I should mention an opinion of mine, that is, that he does use a lot of big words, words which sometimes don't seem to fit what I imagine the character's vocabulary would naturally be. I also feel like some of the scenes and chapters were a little lengthy, but again- that's just this ADHD reader's opinion! There is SO much depth and plot twists and "where am I's" and when am I's" I feel like natural breathers and breaks would be appreciated to process the beautiful intricacies of this story. I am SO excited to read the second book in this series. I've already recommended Blackcloak: A Man of His Sword, to someone. It truly is an original.
Okay. Let me start off by admitting that it took me about 20% of the book to realllllllly understand and get into the plot of this story. But once I did, I was completely immersed in the Asian-esque culture and world that W. James Chan so beautifully crafted. He has an incredible way with words and weaving scenes together to create a very unique 'voice.' While on the subject of the Author's writing style and voice, I feel I should mention an opinion of mine, that is, that he does use a lot of big words, words which sometimes don't seem to fit what I imagine the character's vocabulary would naturally be. I also feel like some of the scenes and chapters were a little lengthy, but again- that's just this ADHD reader's opinion! There is SO much depth and plot twists and "where am I's" and when am I's" I feel like natural breathers and breaks would be appreciated to process the beautiful intricacies of this story. I am SO excited to read the second book in this series. I've already recommended Blackcloak: A Man of His Sword, to someone. It truly is an original.
August 19, 2025
This is an excellent debut novel. The world the author has created is well-crafted and meaty, but there is still room for further development. This means any future books in the series still have somewhere to go beyond the protagonist of the first, if the author chooses to do so. The writing is well-crafted and the characters are fleshed out and have personalities that turn standard tropes on their heads. The only 'critique' I can really provide is that it can, at times, leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed through the sheer amount of dreams-within-dreams. While this can make the reader a bit disoriented and confused, it also helps you understand the mindset of the protagonist and how he must feel on his journey. All in all, both the author and the world he is creating show great potential. I look forward to seeing what further threads will be weaved into the bloody tapestry of Kaef're, as well as pulling the old ones a bit further to see what secrets have yet to be uncovered.
June 12, 2025
The blurb on the back of this book promised a "psychological thriller" and boy, does it deliver! It took a long time to read because I had to rest my mind after a few chapters, and the different timelines were hard to follow sometimes, but it was worth it to work through.
This is one of the books that end in such a way that you have to page back to the beginning of the book with a greater understanding of how it began. I didn't read it all the way through again, but I did read over the first chapter while saying "Now that makes sense" a lot. No spoilers, though; I'm not a monster.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves what has been described as "Dark. Literary. Fantasy."
This is one of the books that end in such a way that you have to page back to the beginning of the book with a greater understanding of how it began. I didn't read it all the way through again, but I did read over the first chapter while saying "Now that makes sense" a lot. No spoilers, though; I'm not a monster.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves what has been described as "Dark. Literary. Fantasy."
August 20, 2025
Oh wow.
Wow. Wow. Wow.
What a twisty, not so little black book! If you like disorienting books that don't outright tell you what's happening (and yet does at the same time), then Blackcloak is for you.
While Charan is a man of his sword, W. James Chan is a man of his word. Or, well, several of them. His writing is, to say the least, awesome.
I'm definitely going to make a much longer review at some point. For now, just believe me when I say this book is pretty great. It's definitely not a read suited for everyone but, for those who want something different, this is the book!
Wow. Wow. Wow.
What a twisty, not so little black book! If you like disorienting books that don't outright tell you what's happening (and yet does at the same time), then Blackcloak is for you.
While Charan is a man of his sword, W. James Chan is a man of his word. Or, well, several of them. His writing is, to say the least, awesome.
I'm definitely going to make a much longer review at some point. For now, just believe me when I say this book is pretty great. It's definitely not a read suited for everyone but, for those who want something different, this is the book!
June 16, 2025
Bewildering, beautiful, and brilliant. Often hard to follow but exceptionally well-made and realized.
Absolutely worth your time and effort, just be prepared to take notes.
Absolutely worth your time and effort, just be prepared to take notes.
June 24, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is a different approach to the genre.
Quite unlike anything else I have ever read.
Typical that I miss something the first time I read a book.
I have read this 4 times now. Each time, it gets richer.
The level of detail was a bit overwhelming at first, however, it all ties together really well.
I recommend this book.
Quite unlike anything else I have ever read.
Typical that I miss something the first time I read a book.
I have read this 4 times now. Each time, it gets richer.
The level of detail was a bit overwhelming at first, however, it all ties together really well.
I recommend this book.
August 22, 2025
The prologue to Chan’s intriguing and ambitious fantasy punches you right in the chops from the get-go. The prose is high-powered, peppered with jaw-dropping allusions and language tricks, and it both tickles the fancy of the more literary reader and simultaneously plants a big fat warning sign in front of your nose. This is not yet another iteration of Tolkien or G.R.R. Martin. If you’re expecting 400 pages of Skyrim or a chosen one with the prettiness of a K-pop icon, riding atop a dragon and taking on hordes of invading orcs, turn back now! BLACKCLOAK is fantasy, yes, but it’s the kind of fantasy you’ve never read before.
Thankfully in some ways, the dreamy pyrotechnics settle down a little (but only a little) when the story begins in earnest. The hapless Dog Ears (in fact, the first incarnation of the main character) is mercilessly bullied as the village idiot, but is afflicted by profound questions about the world he inhabits and his place within it. Clearly, something is a bit off; he’s not quite the person he thinks he is. And as the story expands and poor Dog Ears becomes Char the bully, an unprepossessing street urchin but with the same peculiar doubts and more noble feelings, his psychological manipulation by agents beyond his control blurs the division between dream and reality – until it is not only Char but also the reader who must negotiate the mental ambiguities of the world Chan has created.
And what a world it is. Reminiscent of “ancient China”, according to the blurb, but also with a distinct whiff of Kurosawa – at least for this Occidental reader with little knowledge of the Orient -, Char’s (and Chan’s) playground is rich, but more in vivid sepia impressions and ideas than in strict black and white detail. In keeping with the dreamlike quality of many scenes, I felt that I was looking at them through a vignette. And, yet, the action is occasionally stark, bloody, and in your face. Chan doesn’t hold back on the gore, although this is hardly a core element of the book, and is, anyway, handled in a dispassionate, non-sensational way. A sword does what it does. It is what it is.
Another thing I appreciate is that although Chan has created a vivid fantasy realm with its own lore, helpfully supported by a glossary of terms at the back and even a pronunciation guide for the language elements he has invented, he doesn’t subject the reader to pseudo-Shakespearean language – no prithee, my lord, or Hale fellow, well met. The vernacular is 21st century, which makes Char’s mental discourse and all dialogue in the book accessible and immediately engaging.
Suffice to say, this is, overall, a demanding book – but demanding in a good way. First, the writing is top-notch throughout, the author rewarding the patient reader with word-wizardry that regularly stops you in your tracks. Second, the tapestry of interweaving threads – threads more in terms of psychology and meaning, perhaps, than strict plot mechanics – is rich and sometimes confounding, and you certainly need your wits about you. But it all pays off. Like Char, and later Charan, the final incarnation of the hero on his road to self-discovery, we turn the page, curious to know finally where the madness of dreams ends and reality begins.
Highly recommended.
Thankfully in some ways, the dreamy pyrotechnics settle down a little (but only a little) when the story begins in earnest. The hapless Dog Ears (in fact, the first incarnation of the main character) is mercilessly bullied as the village idiot, but is afflicted by profound questions about the world he inhabits and his place within it. Clearly, something is a bit off; he’s not quite the person he thinks he is. And as the story expands and poor Dog Ears becomes Char the bully, an unprepossessing street urchin but with the same peculiar doubts and more noble feelings, his psychological manipulation by agents beyond his control blurs the division between dream and reality – until it is not only Char but also the reader who must negotiate the mental ambiguities of the world Chan has created.
And what a world it is. Reminiscent of “ancient China”, according to the blurb, but also with a distinct whiff of Kurosawa – at least for this Occidental reader with little knowledge of the Orient -, Char’s (and Chan’s) playground is rich, but more in vivid sepia impressions and ideas than in strict black and white detail. In keeping with the dreamlike quality of many scenes, I felt that I was looking at them through a vignette. And, yet, the action is occasionally stark, bloody, and in your face. Chan doesn’t hold back on the gore, although this is hardly a core element of the book, and is, anyway, handled in a dispassionate, non-sensational way. A sword does what it does. It is what it is.
Another thing I appreciate is that although Chan has created a vivid fantasy realm with its own lore, helpfully supported by a glossary of terms at the back and even a pronunciation guide for the language elements he has invented, he doesn’t subject the reader to pseudo-Shakespearean language – no prithee, my lord, or Hale fellow, well met. The vernacular is 21st century, which makes Char’s mental discourse and all dialogue in the book accessible and immediately engaging.
Suffice to say, this is, overall, a demanding book – but demanding in a good way. First, the writing is top-notch throughout, the author rewarding the patient reader with word-wizardry that regularly stops you in your tracks. Second, the tapestry of interweaving threads – threads more in terms of psychology and meaning, perhaps, than strict plot mechanics – is rich and sometimes confounding, and you certainly need your wits about you. But it all pays off. Like Char, and later Charan, the final incarnation of the hero on his road to self-discovery, we turn the page, curious to know finally where the madness of dreams ends and reality begins.
Highly recommended.
September 26, 2025
For someone who currently has difficulty reading due to eyesight issues, the fact that I did not shelve this book unfinished speaks volumes about its brilliance and power to seduce. Along the way, I’ll admit I often found myself wrestling with the worry that I couldn’t do it justice until such time as my eyesight improves. But in every instance, I always read on anyway, feeling magnetised by W. James Chan writing. I also had to remind myself that, due to its intricacy and purposeful writing style, part of Blackcloak’s design to coax its reader towards re-readings, anyway. This is a Lynchian tale of a fractured personality, after all, ala Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive, and at times comes off as as much of a mind-bender and puzzle as those particular texts. One pass will surely not be enough, no matter how absorbed you may have felt along the way. There is much to cogitate here.
In light of that, one thing about Blackcloak that I particularly fell in love with was the meticulously synthesised lore, mythos, and traditions of the society that the narrative inhabits. The Twelve, the Twelve Commandments, would be one example of this. Another would be the poetic names of places and characters, and even times of day.
For the sake of simplicity, let’s call the central character ‘Dog Ears’. For me, it was around the time that the character Plump Treat was introduced, that I realised it would not be that easy to like Dog Ears, but I soon came to sympathise with him anyway because he seemingly has everything stacked against him in this extreme dog-eat-dog world, so intricately and meticulously crafted.
Amid his journey through this cruel terrain, layers of this protagonist’s personality are peeled back, facilitating a re-examination. Owing to this, without giving away anything, there are reveals that make for quite a denouement! ‘I should have seen that coming,’ I told myself, but I didn’t. The novel presents quandaries around the nature of identity and the role of memories in selfhood. And, if memories are not to be relied upon, what might that mean for our protagonist?
Blackcloak is ‘psychofantasy’, to use W. James Chan’s term, and it has the feeling of an epic. Meanwhile, the writing style is somehow rich yet elegantly spare at times. Also, this is not a visually depicted text – I could not imagine what a land not unlike ancient China looked like – and at first I struggled with this, but over time I learned to let that go and became much more interested in the psychological depth of the writing, finding that that is where the meat of the story lies. This is chiefly an examination of the scarred psyche of the protagonist, after all. Beyond all that, the reader is free to visualise the story as they wish.
In summary, Blackcloak is not an easy read, but definitely a worthwhile one! Yes, it is an utterly unique and compelling text, and exactly what I was searching for on my hunt for interesting and unusual books to grace my bookshelves. I’m glad I found a writer of such ingenuity
‘May the night never know your name’… indeed, or I’d be in hot water. I wouldn’t want to live in Dog Ears’ world, for it is a harsh world indeed, but I greatly enjoy reading about it. Furthermore, W. James Chan has made me into a reader again, which is tremendous!
In light of that, one thing about Blackcloak that I particularly fell in love with was the meticulously synthesised lore, mythos, and traditions of the society that the narrative inhabits. The Twelve, the Twelve Commandments, would be one example of this. Another would be the poetic names of places and characters, and even times of day.
For the sake of simplicity, let’s call the central character ‘Dog Ears’. For me, it was around the time that the character Plump Treat was introduced, that I realised it would not be that easy to like Dog Ears, but I soon came to sympathise with him anyway because he seemingly has everything stacked against him in this extreme dog-eat-dog world, so intricately and meticulously crafted.
Amid his journey through this cruel terrain, layers of this protagonist’s personality are peeled back, facilitating a re-examination. Owing to this, without giving away anything, there are reveals that make for quite a denouement! ‘I should have seen that coming,’ I told myself, but I didn’t. The novel presents quandaries around the nature of identity and the role of memories in selfhood. And, if memories are not to be relied upon, what might that mean for our protagonist?
Blackcloak is ‘psychofantasy’, to use W. James Chan’s term, and it has the feeling of an epic. Meanwhile, the writing style is somehow rich yet elegantly spare at times. Also, this is not a visually depicted text – I could not imagine what a land not unlike ancient China looked like – and at first I struggled with this, but over time I learned to let that go and became much more interested in the psychological depth of the writing, finding that that is where the meat of the story lies. This is chiefly an examination of the scarred psyche of the protagonist, after all. Beyond all that, the reader is free to visualise the story as they wish.
In summary, Blackcloak is not an easy read, but definitely a worthwhile one! Yes, it is an utterly unique and compelling text, and exactly what I was searching for on my hunt for interesting and unusual books to grace my bookshelves. I’m glad I found a writer of such ingenuity
‘May the night never know your name’… indeed, or I’d be in hot water. I wouldn’t want to live in Dog Ears’ world, for it is a harsh world indeed, but I greatly enjoy reading about it. Furthermore, W. James Chan has made me into a reader again, which is tremendous!
July 31, 2025
In a novel that appears to have everything (except one reliable narrator), BLACKCLOAK is a prelude to what must be a very fertile series. It has a lot of rules to learn and pieces to set up, and it guides us there naturally, giving us a few fragments of the world at a time so they are easy to digest. The writing is evocative and at times poetic, diving through a landscape both familiar and wholly new. Many things that are generally up are shown to us as down, and many things we expect to be white turn out pitch black. BLACKCLOAK always seems to be telling us that nothing is as it appears, leaving our feet too frightened to stand still on shaky ground. It is that anxious thorn of "something not quite right" that goads us to go on, propelling us through the pages of artfully crafted prose that are more than mere decoration for the walls of a maze.
One of the things that struck me when looking back at the book as a whole: BLACKCLOAK is hard to challenge as thoroughly as it challenges itself. Whenever it seems to hover too close to taking itself seriously, BLACKCLOAK delivers humor and disarming wordplay to slice through the mood. It chides itself whenever it makes the hero too heroic, mocks its own seeming lapse into harem romance. Even the system of religion, which must have been as thoughtfully constructed as BLACKCLOAK's several native languages, is not exempt from its japery. This reduction can come off as slightly insecure at times, but I believe that it is the key to BLACKCLOAK's charm: its startling accessibility.
Because it is occasionally quite vulnerable. Themes of incomplete identity and abandonment ripple through a fantasy that is rarely, if ever, fantastical. There is magic, and sword fighting, and creatures that defy understanding, but somehow the book stays grounded and human, if only half so. It opens up so many exciting possibilities for future titles in the series and sets a very labor-intensive bar for those who follow after. The only way to come away from BLACKCLOAK feeling dissatisfied is to finish it, shut it, and never open it again. A foundation this good must be built upon. I can't wait to see where GILDENHAMMER goes in such big shoes.
One of the things that struck me when looking back at the book as a whole: BLACKCLOAK is hard to challenge as thoroughly as it challenges itself. Whenever it seems to hover too close to taking itself seriously, BLACKCLOAK delivers humor and disarming wordplay to slice through the mood. It chides itself whenever it makes the hero too heroic, mocks its own seeming lapse into harem romance. Even the system of religion, which must have been as thoughtfully constructed as BLACKCLOAK's several native languages, is not exempt from its japery. This reduction can come off as slightly insecure at times, but I believe that it is the key to BLACKCLOAK's charm: its startling accessibility.
Because it is occasionally quite vulnerable. Themes of incomplete identity and abandonment ripple through a fantasy that is rarely, if ever, fantastical. There is magic, and sword fighting, and creatures that defy understanding, but somehow the book stays grounded and human, if only half so. It opens up so many exciting possibilities for future titles in the series and sets a very labor-intensive bar for those who follow after. The only way to come away from BLACKCLOAK feeling dissatisfied is to finish it, shut it, and never open it again. A foundation this good must be built upon. I can't wait to see where GILDENHAMMER goes in such big shoes.
November 11, 2024
I knew going into it, this book would take more time to read and to ponder. I would have given it a 5 star if I could have become invested in the main character much sooner. First books are difficult to gage everything, writing is a true learn as you go endeavor. I know this. This book is a delight to the senses but a brutal assault on the mind. It was very difficult to track sometimes but was tied together neatly at the end. Sort of. Will have to read sequel to make sure.... I do not repeat blurbs in my reviews, you no doubt have already read those anyway. I just give an opinion of whether it held my interest til the end. It could be elevated literature or entirely fluff, doesn't matter to me. What matters is did I enjoy or engage til the end. If you've time to indulge, give it a go as it is definitely not curl up and cozy romance to be read in a couple of hours. Also read the glossary at the end first, may help to keep some of the characters in their place....
June 5, 2024
I love this book.
It has all the elements that I enjoy in a fantasy setting.
It took a bit to get into the first read through, however, I have re-read it 3 times now and it gets better each time.
The characters are engaging and well-written.
The end left me wanting more.
According to the info in the book there are more books to come can't wait!
It has all the elements that I enjoy in a fantasy setting.
It took a bit to get into the first read through, however, I have re-read it 3 times now and it gets better each time.
The characters are engaging and well-written.
The end left me wanting more.
According to the info in the book there are more books to come can't wait!
Read
August 21, 2015Review available at IndieReader.
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